"I have used Depakote for the past 13 years now, 500 mg per day.  The only side effects were nausea and anxiety for the first day or two.  At that point, I was taking 1000 mg.  My neurologist pulled back the dosage to 750 mg and later 500 mg.  I've never had weight gain as a result of it and notice no ill effects with light drinking.  I did stop taking Depakote for about 6 months about 10 years ago and soon thereafter had a petit mal seizure.  I immediately went back on Depakote and haven't had an issue since.  Really couldn't be more satisfied with this medicine."